Morrison’s signs for first supermarket in Openshaw
Dransfield Properties has signed Morrison's to anchor its £40m regeneration scheme in Openshaw, east Manchester.
Morrison's will take a 35-year lease on an 80,000 sq ft store, the first large supermarket in the Openshaw and Ashton Old Road area. The store is due to open in summer 2009.
Consent was secured earlier this year for the scheme which will deliver the supermarket for Morrison's, ten retail units from 1,765 sq ft to 22,500 sq ft, a 22,500 sq ft leisure unit, 57,000 sq ft of office accommodation, café and restaurant facilities and 670 car parking spaces.
Andrew Malley, retail property director at Dransfield Properties, said: "This is a significant step forward in delivering a new district centre for Openshaw and we look forward to announcing further national operators over the next few months."
New East Manchester, the area's urban regeneration company, said it is on the way to achieving a key objective of doubling the population of the area over the next 10 to 15 years.
Tom Russell, chief executive of New East Manchester, said: "The retail offer in this part of east Manchester has been poor for a number of years, so having a prestigious retailer such as Morrison's as the anchor store for the district centre is tremendous and will undoubtedly attract other high street retailers, bringing jobs and visitors to the area."